Venezuela Asks U.S. Military to Leave Base Offices

reuters ^ | 5/12/04

[knak]

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela has asked the U.S. military mission to leave liaison offices at armed forces bases in the country, U.S. Ambassador Charles Shapiro said on Wednesday.

The request appeared to signal a further downgrading of military links between the two countries, whose relations have become strained under the government of left-wing President Hugo Chavez. It was sent to the U.S. Embassy on Friday by Defense Minister Gen. Jorge Garcia.

U.S. defense attache staff members were asked to leave offices at Fuerte Tiuna armed forces headquarters in Caracas and at other military installations, Shapiro said. That would mean they would have to work from the embassy or other rented premises.

Shapiro declined to say how the move would affect U.S. military cooperation with Venezuela, which has decreased since Chavez took office in early 1999.

U.S. officers have been advising on anti-drug operations and training local pilots flying U.S.-made F-16 fighters. U.S. defense officials in Venezuela declined to specify the size of the mission.

Asked why the request to vacate the offices was made, Garcia told Reuters, "Because they (the U.S. officers) are still there."

In August 2001, Venezuela's government asked the U.S. military mission to leave the Fuerte Tiuna site it had occupied for more than 50 years. But the mission continued to operate there, even through the coup the following year that briefly ousted Chavez.

Relations between the United States and its biggest Latin American oil supplier have deteriorated since Chavez survived the 2002 coup. He has accused the U.S. government of backing opposition efforts to oust him, a charge denied by Washington.

Washington has criticized the Venezuelan leader's close alliance with Cuba's communist president, Fidel Castro. Chavez has condemned the criticism as meddling.

Garcia asked the U.S. military personnel to leave Fuerte Tiuna days before Venezuela's security forces announced they captured a large force of Colombian paramilitaries.

The estimated 90 Colombians, who were seized wearing Venezuelan army uniforms and with only one pistol between them, are being held and questioned at Fuerte Tiuna.

Venezuelan opposition leaders have accused the government of using Sunday's capture of the Colombians -- which some say is an elaborate ruse -- to justify a crackdown against them.

[cyborg]

What's Chavez up to? Hmmmmm

[Patrick1]

We leave the day after the recall electon Hugo.

[Joee]

And we take our foreign aid with us, every cent. We also expel most of their diplomatic Corps.

[Willie Green]

And we take our foreign aid with us, every cent.

Since Venezuela supplies over 12% of our petroleum imports, they likely don't give a flying fig about our foreign aid.
Both factions of the Republicrat Party are to be blamed for failing to develop a comprehensive Energy Policy that would reduce our nation's dependence on imported oil. After 30 years of broken promises, partisan fingerpointing is no longer acceptable.

[gcruse]

failing to develop a comprehensive Energy Policy

"We have an energy policy.  It's called the free market."

Worked for me twenty years ago, works for me now.

[monkeywrench]

The chinese and cubans will move in.

[hedgetrimmer]

When we sign the FTAA Venezuelan citizens will have the right to be treated the same as citizens in this nation and the right to freely migrate here without following immigration rules set by us for countries outside the western hemisphere.

So if Chavez wanted to really hurt us, he'd sign the FTAA.

[hedgetrimmer]

When we sign the FTAA Venezuelan citizens will have the right to be treated the same as citizens in this nation and the right to freely migrate here without following immigration rules set by us for countries outside the western hemisphere.

So if Chavez wanted to really hurt us, he'd sign the FTAA.

[Willie Green]

National Security doesn't mean much to you, does it?

Study: High oil prices fuel Saudi building boom

[hedgetrimmer]

they likely don't give a flying fig about our foreign aid

Yes they do. Part of their demands for the Summit of the Americas and the FTAA is infrastructure development funds so that Venezuela can reach infrastructure equity with the United States. And was it Venezuela or some other country, Argentina, that wants us to end world hunger before they sign?

These countries are making ridiculous demands because the greedheads that are after the 800 million person "free trade" zone are in control of our government and will do anything, give away everything that belongs to Americans, to get this trade agreement signed.

[Poohbah]

So if Chavez wanted to really hurt us, he'd sign the FTAA.

Venezuela would suffer from immediate "brightsizing." All the intelligent people would move to the US.

[gcruse]

National Security doesn't mean much to you, does it?

When the administration tries to tie abortion and the war on  drugs into the war on terror,
you know national security is the new pork.  If you like paying three dollars a gallon for gas
on the market, you're going to love paying five dollars when it is being managed.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!